Few things I noticed while I was under my truck

Lemon law

 

well seals and gaskets are usually one time only and should never be reused even from a new truck on the lot, just for future reference always best to use new gasket, that being said its really up to you at this point, once you get a new gasket unless they damage it during install you will likely not develop another leak. However you are reaching the point of lemon law/30 days past being in the shop or whatever the law states and you would likely win in a case against toyota, at this point its really up to you, keep your current truck or pursue legal action towards a new one. I would at least recoup your payment for the month plus that you've paid and not had your truck from Toyota.

 

How many 3rd gens are close to being lemon law at this point that we know of? This is nuts.

 

Not according to many in this section, but i'll leave that alone, only "a few" cases.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/truck-broke-down-today.427560/

Another person on here is in the process of a lemon law claim in California if you wanted to see how that pans out.

 

It's an unfortunate thing. However at this point they should have more replacement parts available in their warehouses. Toyota is dropping the ball big time. It should only take 3 days max to get that part at this stage. I could see maybe if this happened back in September. Just stay in the loaner until the part arrives

 

That's incredibly frustrating, I feel your pain! So it sounds like a straight forward fix except that the parts are delayed. I wouldn't bother with arbitration, better to get on with your life. And your truck is only what, a month old or so? That gives you plenty of time to forget this nightmare and enjoy the truck. Unless you see other problems in the next year and a half, in which case the 3 weeks they had it for this leak would be part of the record to claim it a lemon.

 

That's amazing, I wouldn't accept that at all and would definitely pursue a law suit. Brand new expensive vehicle and you lose it for a month, no way no how. I think I would demand a replacement vehicle or a refund.

 

Yep pinion seal as expected.

They should inspect the pinion bearing as well in order to assure that the seal didn't fail because the preload (nut they are talking about) wasn't set correctly or the bearing itself wasn't defective. Both could have already done damage to the pinion bearing.

There is only one proper way to do this and unfortunately dealers don't often do it this way. The proper way is to reinstall the pinion bearing and a NEW crush sleeve. Then tighten the nut to the proper torque spec for the correct bearing pre load, with a torque wrench.

Many dealers reuse the old crush sleeve. Guess how a simple pinion seal replacement lead to a $1000+ repair bill on my last truck.....

Luckily your truck will still be under a long enough warranty to where if any differential damage occurs it will occur before the end of it. There isnt much slop for things to be meshed incorrectly so you'll hear a loud whirring/whine start to occur if they messed it up. Then you'll probably get a whole new differential out of it.

 

Lemon law? Are you kidding me? That seems pretty sleazy to try to pursue lemon law for this. The truck is not a lemon. It sounds like everything is fine on the truck except the differential, which would've been fixed in one day if the part was available. I'd bet that the backordered part would factor into any lawsuit and the chances of successfully proving the truck is a lemon are nil...

 

Seems pretty simple to me. You have a loaner car while they are waiting for parts. I'm sure 3 weeks is worse case scenario.

Just wait and get the seal replaced and get truck back? Seems pretty simple to me.

 

You guys are way more tolerant than I am. You really wouldn't be pissed if you bought a brand new vehicle and then had it in the shop for a month!?!?

 

Yeah I hear you, 10-20 years ago. But I've been through lots of ups and downs in life and learned how not to sweat the small stuff (maybe more importantly just how much small stuff there is in life) - in the multi year ownership of a vehicle, a 3 week repair fades over time. It's not a mysterious issue like the sand in the tank thread or the horse trailer one, so you can be confident of the fix. It sucks but Toyota is taking care of the issue and OP has a loaner so it boils down to being an inconvenience... Not trying to minimize the emotional side of things, but I tend to try to broaden my perspective of the moment to a wider view.

 

The apologists are thick here

 

So you got legitimate issues with your truck mate. But it's conceivable that OP will get a straight fix and enjoy her truck for years to come. Or maybe she got a dud like yours, but I hope not.

I have no complaints so far, it's hands down the best vehicle I've bought. There's a lot of us that are in that boat and I'm sorry you didn't get what I did.

 

One thing is for sure, you should ask for an extended warranty. What state are you in?

 

.

.

 

@Eden4x2 that really blows! Hope you get everything squared away.

 

@thors.hammer : I had the truck for 2.5 wks, but it had been back at service twice by that point, low ATF fluid, u-bolt being able to unscrew w. just my hands, truck spurting and engine cutting out, grinding gears etc.. this is the 3rd time for which they want it for 3 weeks. I am in southern California.

Although like @kingston73 says, I am indeed upset over this, I do have a loaner and I can't quite complain, and @Briavael has a nice point, compared to all the rest that life could throw at us, these 3 weeks wait is not a biggie at all, just imagine the millions over the world who hardly could even imagine the simple pleasures of our lives. Put's me in place and look down for the less fortunate. I surely do consider pursuing them for some extended warranty though, I just don't know how to go about that? Should I ask the corporate office? So far, I have been always nice to the dealership and tell them each time, 'here's the problem, fix it.' They are quite surprised that I, a woman was able to go under the truck and unscrew the bolts and checked for leaked oil and such. I think, they didn't think I'd wouldn't mind getting some grease and oil on my hands or under my fingernails. I just read a lot and take my time with everything.

 

When your vehicle has been in the shop 31 days for the same problem, it qualifies as a lemon under California lemon laws. At least that is my understanding. If I were you, I would track this carefully as it sounds like you are likely to hit the 31 day mark. And it isn't consecutive days. It's total days which also includes waiting on parts.

This gives you a lot of leverage.

You could get a new truck. I'm sure they would be happy to provide an extended warranty over a new truck.